Rail to Wall
Rail to Wall
Publication Design
Publication Design
Print Production
Print Production
Rail to Wall is a self-initiated documentary project by Giovanni Gutierrez that traces graffiti along a historic corridor—from Santa Monica, California to Yuma, Arizona. The project explores whether recurring visual or cultural narratives emerge along the remains of the Southern Pacific Railroad and the I-10 Freeway—routes that have profoundly shaped Southern California’s landscape. In the summer of 2023, Giovanni traveled the region on foot and by car, over 287 miles capturing over 2,000 photographs. By 2024, he transformed this archive into 26 hand-crafted booklets—letterpress and silkscreen printed—offering a tactile, visual record of a landscape in flux.
Rail to Wall is a self-initiated documentary project by Giovanni Gutierrez that traces graffiti along a historic corridor—from Santa Monica, California to Yuma, Arizona. The project explores whether recurring visual or cultural narratives emerge along the remains of the Southern Pacific Railroad and the I-10 Freeway—routes that have profoundly shaped Southern California’s landscape. In the summer of 2023, Giovanni traveled the region on foot and by car, over 287 miles capturing over 2,000 photographs. By 2024, he transformed this archive into 26 hand-crafted booklets—letterpress and silkscreen printed—offering a tactile, visual record of a landscape in flux.
Rail to Wall is a self-initiated documentary project by Giovanni Gutierrez that traces graffiti along a historic corridor—from Santa Monica, California to Yuma, Arizona. The project explores whether recurring visual or cultural narratives emerge along the remains of the Southern Pacific Railroad and the I-10 Freeway—routes that have profoundly shaped Southern California’s landscape. In the summer of 2023, Giovanni traveled the region on foot and by car, over 287 miles capturing over 2,000 photographs. By 2024, he transformed this archive into 26 hand-crafted booklets—letterpress and silkscreen printed—offering a tactile, visual record of a landscape in flux.
Booklet A
The first booklet, Book A, outlines Southern California’s transformation through the rise and fall of the railroads, the emergence of the freeway system, and the resulting waves of urbanization, gentrification, and graffiti culture. It also highlights Yuma’s pivotal role as the historic gateway to the West. While these developments spurred growth, they also displaced communities across the region. Each of the 25 towns documented includes a brief historical summary, grounding the visuals in context.
The first booklet, Book A, outlines Southern California’s transformation through the rise and fall of the railroads, the emergence of the freeway system, and the resulting waves of urbanization, gentrification, and graffiti culture. It also highlights Yuma’s pivotal role as the historic gateway to the West. While these developments spurred growth, they also displaced communities across the region. Each of the 25 towns documented includes a brief historical summary, grounding the visuals in context.
The first booklet, Book A, outlines Southern California’s transformation through the rise and fall of the railroads, the emergence of the freeway system, and the resulting waves of urbanization, gentrification, and graffiti culture. It also highlights Yuma’s pivotal role as the historic gateway to the West. While these developments spurred growth, they also displaced communities across the region. Each of the 25 towns documented includes a brief historical summary, grounding the visuals in context.
Booklets B-Z
Booklets B–Z document photographs taken across four counties—Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial—focusing on their respective towns. Together, the booklets feature over 1,000 images captured in places such as Santa Monica, Sawtelle, Palms, Culver City, West Adams, Jefferson Park, Mid-City, Downtown Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Alhambra, Rosemead, El Monte, West Covina, Pomona, Ontario, Fontana, Colton, Beaumont, White Water, Palm Springs, Thousand Palms, Indio, Coachella, Salton, Bombay Beach, Niland, Slab City, Heber, Calexico, and Yuma. Each county is assigned its own colorway, and every town-specific booklet includes key statistics—population, crime rates, and unemployment rates—offering a contemporary snapshot of its political and economic standing.
Booklets B–Z document photographs taken across four counties—Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial—focusing on their respective towns. Together, the booklets feature over 1,000 images captured in places such as Santa Monica, Sawtelle, Palms, Culver City, West Adams, Jefferson Park, Mid-City, Downtown Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Alhambra, Rosemead, El Monte, West Covina, Pomona, Ontario, Fontana, Colton, Beaumont, White Water, Palm Springs, Thousand Palms, Indio, Coachella, Salton, Bombay Beach, Niland, Slab City, Heber, Calexico, and Yuma. Each county is assigned its own colorway, and every town-specific booklet includes key statistics—population, crime rates, and unemployment rates—offering a contemporary snapshot of its political and economic standing.
Special Thanks
A heartfelt thank you to Leslie Ross-Robertson, my mentor and friend, for her guidance throughout the letterpress and polymer plate-making process. Deep thanks as well to David Barzaga for his companionship in documenting the photographs across the Colorado Desert.
A heartfelt thank you to Leslie Ross-Robertson, my mentor and friend, for her guidance throughout the letterpress and polymer plate-making process. Deep thanks as well to David Barzaga for his companionship in documenting the photographs across the Colorado Desert.
A heartfelt thank you to Leslie Ross-Robertson, my mentor and friend, for her guidance throughout the letterpress and polymer plate-making process. Deep thanks as well to David Barzaga for his companionship in documenting the photographs across the Colorado Desert.
Project Credits
Creative Direction, Design, Writing, Photography, & Print Production:
Giovanni Gutierrez
Case Study Photography Director:
David Barzaga
Case Study Photographer:
Giovanni Gutierrez
Creative Direction, Design, Writing, Photography, & Print Production:
Giovanni Gutierrez
Case Study Photography Director:
David Barzaga
Case Study Photographer:
Giovanni Gutierrez
Creative Direction, Design, Writing, Photography, & Print Production:
Giovanni Gutierrez
Case Study Photography Director:
David Barzaga
Case Study Photographer:
Giovanni Gutierrez
Ready to begin your project? Start a conversation with us today and let’s talk about how we can collaborate to bring your ideas to life.
Ready to begin your project? Start a conversation with us today and let’s talk about how we can collaborate to bring your ideas to life.
© 2025 Tierr Eztudio. All rights reserved. Los Angeles, California.
© 2025 Tierr Eztudio. All rights reserved. Los Angeles, California.